Cybercrime is a reality that can affect anyone, regardless of their background or online activity. Individuals need to educate themselves on the dangers of cybercrime and measures for its prevention. Being proactive in one’s digital safety is always better than regretting not taking necessary precautions later on.

Cybercrime exclusively refers to the theft of another person’s private information through hacking or online means. Anyone may readily obtain sensitive information today because of modern technology and easy internet access. The internet has accelerated the spread of cybercrime by making the world’s knowledge accessible to everyone. Because of all these difficulties, cyber security is becoming a huge concern. It is initially invisible but will become apparent because of its effects. Without a doubt, it may be rising primarily due to the desire for easy money to live a luxurious life or a sense of revenge. Cybercrime may have a significant impact on both individuals and companies, causing financial harm, loss of trust, and reputational damage.

Careful consideration of the issue reveals that these challenges are a result of the exploitation of technological advancements by online predators for criminal purposes. These predators engage in a variety of crimes such as stealing to utilize your system or IP address as a major tool.

According to the academic College Student Journal written by Wick, S. Elizabeth and her team published in 2020, “The advancement of technology has significantly altered how individuals interact, express themselves, and engage in social connections.” In addition to the convenience and effectiveness that technology offers, there is a troubling dark side where the technology may be used in exploitative, controlling, and abusive ways, leading to a range of negative outcomes for people on the receiving end.

Online abuse activities are described using a variety of terminology, including cyber aggression, cyber bullying, cyber harassment, cyber abuse, cyberstalking, and cyber violence. College students who experience abuse or harassment usually report severe, long-lasting, higher levels of psychological problems. These physiological problems can lead to alcohol abuse, smoking, anxiety, and depression which causes the students to have difficulties concentrating and committing to their academics.

According to a US News report by Lucas Coll on Oct 28, 2022, “Cybercriminals and cybercrimes may come in different forms. The techniques these criminals use are diverse, ranging from straightforward hacking to social engineering, phishing, scams, cyber terrorism, plagiarism, cyberstalking, and malicious software.” Coll recommends that everyone should educate themselves about cybercrimes to lower the chances of being at fault for a cybercrime.

Stephen Sorace, a reporter for Fox News on Nov 16, 2022, reported the most recent ransomware assault. On Oct 3, CommonSpirit Health was the target of a cyber assault, which compelled the healthcare provider to take several computer systems down as a precautionary measure. It is one of the largest healthcare systems operating with over 1000 hospitals and care centers across 21 states. This cybercrime may have affected millions of Americans.
AP News on Oct 25, 2022, included that Mark Sokolovsky, a Ukrainian man, was detained on suspicion of federal cybercrime. Sokolovsky is currently facing four charges such as conspiracy to conduct wire and computer fraud. According to the prosecution, he allegedly started creating Raccoon in 2018. He leased it out for roughly $200 per month in cryptocurrencies. According to the court documents, his clients would then use email phishing and other trickster ways to trick victims into installing malware on their computers. After the victims installed the malware this allowed the owner of the malware to steal their information.

It is safe to argue that cybercrime poses a threat to both people’s privacy and their property. Additionally, by adhering to some fundamental reasoning and utilizing common sense, we may prevent cybercrime. People who act in doing cybercrime are breaching both the law and human rights. Therefore, the government should create stringent regulations that will act as protection against cybercrime. This could curb the growth of cybercrime and defend people’s best interests.

With the limited resources available, efforts in security and resilience should be centered on systems supporting essential business processes in order to safeguard the organization. Therefore, cyber professionals should use their skills to do ethical hacking to identify cyber criminals. The usage of cell phones and the internet is increasing dramatically around the world, which is generating questions about consumers’ security and privacy. All users of technology must understand cybercrime and gain a better understanding of online security.

Edited by: Rakesh Swarnakar, Simran Shrestha and LeSha’ Davis